Tool-handle fastening



(No Model.)

D. L.- & S. O. DUNLAP. TOOL HANDLE FASTENING.

No. 532,366. Patented Jan. s, 1895 To all whom it; mag concern.-

UNITED STATES DAVID L. DUNLAP AND SAMUEL O. DUNLAROF DAWSON NEBRASKA.

COUNTY,

TOOL-HANDLE FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 53 2 ,36 6, dated January 8, 1895. Application filed October 4:, 1893. fierial No. 487,509 (llo model.)

Be it known that we, DAVID L. DUNLAP and SAMUEL C. DUNLAP, citizens of the United States, residing in Dawson county, with postoffice address at Miller, in the county of Buffalo and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hammers and Hatchets; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in tool handle fastenings, and it has for its general object to provide such an implement embodying a wedge plate adapted to force the material of the handle against the side and end walls of the eye of the head so as to securely fix said head on the handle, and also adapted to materially strengthen the handle so as to render the same better able to withstand the shock and strain to which, it isordinarily subjected.

To the attainment of the foregoing end, the invention consists in the peculiar construction, certain novel combinations, and the adaptation of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.-

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a perspective view of a hammer embodying our invention. Fig. 2, is aside elevation of the same with a portion of the head and handle removed in order to better illustrate the wedge plate, and Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the wedge plate removed.

Referring by letter to said d1'awings:-A, indicates the head of a hammer which may be of the ordinary or any approved construction, and B, indicates the handle which is placed in the eye a, of the head in the usual manner, The handle B,is provided with a bifurcation or kerf' b, which is disposed in the direction of its greatest width and extends from its inner end to a point about midway its length so as to receive the wedge plate, as illustrated.

0, indicates the Wedge plate, which has its sides and preferably its edges tapered from its outer to. its inner end (see Fig. 3,) in order to better enable it to take into the bifurcation or kerf b, and thereby'force the branches of the handle against the side walls of the eye a. The said wedge plate 0, is secured in the handle by rivets, bolts, or the like 0, (see Fig. 1,) and it is provided at its outer enlarged end with two lateral wedge branches d, as better shown in Fig. 3. These lateral branches (1, have their outer ends arranged in the same plane or flush with the outer end of the plate and theyare tapered from their outer to their inner ends as illustrated, whereby it will be perceived that when the plate is forced home, they will take into the handle and will spread the same in a direction at right angles to the plate and will thereby cause the wood to bind against the end walls of the eye a. This will securely fix the head upon the handle and will effectually prevent the same from flying off, even after long continued use.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description taken with the drawings that hammers, hatchets, and the like, may be provided with our improved wedge plate at the time of'manufacture with but a slight increase in cost, and it will also be perceived that when so provided, the implements are not only rendered materially stronger but the objectionable flying off of the head so often experienced, is eftectually prevented, which is a desideratum. It will be furthermore perceived that the wedge plates embodied in our invention may be placed upon the market, as articles of commodity, and may be placed and secured in tools already in use, by the owners thereof.

Having described our invention, what we claim is 1. The herein described hammer, hatchet,

or similar implement, comprising a head having an eye, a handle resting in said eye, and having a bifurcation or kerf disposed in the direction of its greatest width and extending from its secured end to a point adjacent to its middle, a wedge plate formed from a single piece of metal and corresponding in length to and arranged within the bifurcation or kerf of the handle, and having the lateral branches d, on its opposite sides at its secured end; the said branches being tapered from their outer too 2 teases to their inner ends, and rivets taking through and connecting the handle and; the wedge plate, substantially as specified.

, 2. The herein described hammer, hatchet, 5 or similar implement, consisting essentially of the head having the elongated eye, the ham dle corresponding in shape to and resting in said eye and having a bifurcation or kerf d'is-* posed in the directionof its greatest width and extending from its secured end to a pointadjacent to its middle, the wedge plate formed from a single piece of metal and corresponding in length to and arranged within the bifurcation or kerf of "the handle andta'pered 15 in width and thickness-from its outer to its DAVID L. DUNLAP. SAMUEL o. DUNLAP.

Witnesses:

BROWN, P. L.- ANDERSON. 

